Surreal fete for prince of Pop art at SFMOMA's Modern Ball

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(L to R) Dixon Doll (Gold Jacket) and Marybeth LaMotte (CQ) while dancer Marc Morozumi (CQ) entertains at SFMOMA's Modern Ball 2007 with three parties in one and an auction fundraiser Wednesday May 1, 2007. Kat Wade/The Chronicle
Dixon Doll, Marybeth LaMotte and Marc Morozumi (CQ, subjects) Mandatory Credit for San Francisco Chronicle and photographer, Kat Wade, No Sales Mags out less

MODERN04_0293_KW.jpg
(L to R) Dixon Doll (Gold Jacket) and Marybeth LaMotte (CQ) while dancer Marc Morozumi (CQ) entertains at SFMOMA's Modern Ball 2007 with three parties in one and an auction fundraiser ... more

Photo: Kat Wade

Photo: Kat Wade

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MODERN04_0293_KW.jpg
(L to R) Dixon Doll (Gold Jacket) and Marybeth LaMotte (CQ) while dancer Marc Morozumi (CQ) entertains at SFMOMA's Modern Ball 2007 with three parties in one and an auction fundraiser Wednesday May 1, 2007. Kat Wade/The Chronicle
Dixon Doll, Marybeth LaMotte and Marc Morozumi (CQ, subjects) Mandatory Credit for San Francisco Chronicle and photographer, Kat Wade, No Sales Mags out less

MODERN04_0293_KW.jpg
(L to R) Dixon Doll (Gold Jacket) and Marybeth LaMotte (CQ) while dancer Marc Morozumi (CQ) entertains at SFMOMA's Modern Ball 2007 with three parties in one and an auction fundraiser ... more

Photo: Kat Wade

Surreal fete for prince of Pop art at SFMOMA's Modern Ball

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Walking across the red carpet in front of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday, two pedestrians took note of a line of Soiree Valet attendants at the ready -- identically dressed in black turtlenecks and topped with wild stark-white hair.

"Now that," said the man to his companion as they passed through the phalanx, "is surreal."

Actually, it was "Pop." As in the prince of Pop art, Andy Warhol. And as guests arrived at SFMOMA's second Modern Ball, they stepped out of their cars and into an unscripted and joyous bit of street theater.

The social calendar may have seven months of soirees left. But let it be known: This bold, biennial fundraiser was the year's finest fete. Period.

Not surprising as museum stalwart and former SFMOMA board Chairwoman Elaine McKeon was at the helm. She banged the drum and sweetly cajoled deep-pocketed patrons into purchasing more than 20 tables at $50K each. Aside from having a ball, she helped raise a record $2 million for the museum's exhibitions and education programs.

McKeon also wisely gave the city's resident creative genius, Stanlee Gatti (with an assist from producer Rita Barela), carte blanche to dream up the Warholian landscape through which almost 2,000 guests partied like rock stars.

The look? It was "fabulous," as decreed by the invitation. From classic designers (Oscar de la Renta) to ripped jeans (Levis, natch), it was wall-to-wall glamour. With a wonderfully, wacky edge of the best of the '60s (i.e. miniskirts and Mao T-shirts) mixed in.

Rich Silverstein arrived in high-tops. But his wife, Carla Emil, said that was no big deal as he wears that kind of footwear everyday at his advertising agency.

"But tonight," said Emil, "he gets to dress the shoes up."

However, leave it to Gatti (again), who dreamed up a one-of-a-kind design executed by talented tailor Al Ribaya of Al's Attire in North Beach.

Adorning the black jacket (artistic fringe hanging from its lapels) and the lining: more faces of Warhol's gang. But the showstopper was the hand-stitched Warhol quote on the back: "The only woman in America I fear is Denise Hale."

During the live auction (which raised $270,000, and was led by auctioneer extraordinaire Mark Buell) in the Patrons' Tent, someone in the crowd called out for Gatti to read the quote, which he did, in his finest Serbian accent. Then he vamped: "But Warhol never met Dede!"

The ball was designed as three parties in one. Part one happened in a tent that flanked the Minna Street side of SFMOMA. Dubbed the Supper Club, it was a verdant patch of vibrant Astroturf (inspired by Warhol's film "Grass") that lined the floor, the bars and banquettes. The "wallpaper" was blown-up photo strips, taken in Warhol's old Factory, featuring a rogue's gallery of his disciples, from Edie Sedgwick to Billy Name.

A casual vibe ruled among this Junior-ish set, who noshed upon a McCall Associates buffet (sushi, sweet corn polenta martinis, crab cakes, roast beef) and boogied to the sounds of DJ Earworm and Salvador Santana. But as a reminder that the lower-priced Supper Club ducats ($5,000 for a table of 10) offered no less pizzazz than the Patrons' Tent tickets ($5,000 and $2,500 per ticket or $50K and $25K per table) the dance floor spelled it out: "The Grass Is Not Greener on the Other Side."

Over on the Natoma Street side of the museum, part two was Gatti's re-creation of Warhol's Factory. The tent was draped in silver Mylar fabric. Tables were covered with linens drenched in Warhol's signature soup-can motif. Centerpieces were giant Campbell's Tomato Soup cans, and standard-size cans served as guest's name cards. Chef Lucas Schoemaker's sumptuous supper was served up by the McCalls gang, who also donned Warhol wigs.

In what was surely a first for these A-list museum patrons, DJ Jason and DJ Larry T Byrd Gordon spun tunes that included Nico and the Velvet Underground. And Von Lee Smith, a 17-year-old from Kansas discovered by Gatti on YouTube, blew the crowd away as he belted out the theme song from "Dreamgirls."

"So this is what it's like to sit inside a Campbell's soup can," quipped Willie Brown.

Part three, the Post Modern Party (priced at $125 for the hip-and-happening set), kicked to life in the museum's Haas Atrium. Indie rockers Scissors for Lefty commandeered the stage, writhing and wailing away. So much so, the boys in the band must have been mighty hot because they stripped off their shirts.

Symphonix President Roberta Economides agreed: "This is the first time I've walked into a party in San Francisco and said to myself, 'Oh my God, this is going to be fun!' "

Just as in Warhol's factory of fun, the evening morphed into a colorful kaleidoscope as the Patron set (normally first out the door) beelined for the Supper Club lounge to check out what color its grass was. Led by the always-elegant and ever proper Elaine McKeon.

"I asked Elaine to dance," said Christopher Carson, Gatti's nephew and an MTV music programmer in New York. "And she said, 'Oh, no. I don't dance. Ever.'

"Then I look over later and she's on the dance floor working the robot like nobody's business!"